In an UN International Forum on Finance for Development anticipatory meeting in Monterrey, Mexico, anti-globalisation groups have rejected America's $5-billion aid commitment by scornfully referring to it as ''crumbs''.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a new initiative to combat the epidemics that kill six million people each year, announced the appointment of an international panel of experts that will review all grant proposals and make recommendations to the Board for funding.

The Health GAP Coalition has said dozens of potential recipient countries caved in to donor pressure and the likelihood of low funds by pre-emptively weakening project proposals they submitted last week to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The case for increased funding can only be made by bolder and more comprehensive proposals, the coalition said. Calling on the Global Fund to post country proposals on its Web site as a matter of transparency and good governance, the coalition announced that, in the meantime, the proposals will be posted on the Website Access Project for the Global Fund, based at Harvard University's Center for International Development.

Two years ago, as the world's population surpassed the high mark of 6 billion, scientists were sounding alarm bells over unchecked population growth, especially in the developing world. But now there is a growing consensus among demographers over a new forecast: Before the century ends, the number of humans likely will start to shrink, reckons James Chamie, director of the United Nation's population division.

This Paper is a response to the recommendation of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee in its report on Sierra Leone (HC116-I) that in respect of mercenary activities, the Government publish a Green Paper outlining options for the control of private military companies which operate out of the UK, its dependencies and the British Islands.

Scientific American - "Slavery still flourishes underground in many parts of the world. This case study presents the perspectives of West African social scientists, diplomats, activists and escaped slaves in Gabon. Of particular interest is the Gabonese effort to rehabilitate and repatriate those children who have the luck and courage to escape their bondage."

The Tech Museum of Innovation, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is now seeking nominations for its 2002 global awards. The program draws international attention to individuals, for-profit companies, and public and not-for-profit organizations that are using technology to improve the quality of life around the world in five universal categories: Education, Equality, Economic Development, Environment, and Health. Nominations are welcome from all sources, including self-nominations. Individuals, for-profit companies, and public or non-profit organizations are eligible. The simple nomination form can be filled out online.

An interesting article at CNET details the planned implemtentation of a supercomputing grid in India. India is a developing country, but this has not stopped it's rapid progress in the world of ICTs. It is on the way to becoming a serious contender in the digital world.

A collective of computer experts is working to enhance the privacy of non-governmental organizations around the world.

China, Brazil, India, and nine other of the world's most biodiverse countries signed an alliance Monday to fight biopiracy and press for rules protecting their people's rights to genetic resources found on their land. The declaration — also signed by representatives of Indonesia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Peru, Venezuela, and South Africa — echoed complaints long voiced by Indians and environmentalists: that wealthy nations are "prospecting" for species in order to patent or sell them without offering concessions or benefits for local people.

The Netherlands has pledged US $100 million to an international trust fund for the Great Lakes region in Africa, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, announced on Friday.

The Bush administration yesterday at a hearing on Capitol Hill defended its contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, saying that the United States was the first nation to contribute to the fund and has so far made the largest contribution. But senators and AIDS activists urged the government to provide more resources, AP/Newsday reports.

As most of you know, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance involved nine days of intensive and frequently difficult negotiation. Even after the Conference, there was a difference of views or perceptions that principally concerned the placement of several paragraphs in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and which delayed the issuance of the report of the Conference. Nevertheless, despite all of the obstacles that had to be overcome, the Conference was ultimately successful in negotiating a Declaration and Programme of Action by consensus. The report of the Conference was issued and is now before you.

Mike Moore, director-general of the World Trade Organisation, has urged developing countries to support proposals for WTO rules on competition and investment, telling them it is in their own economic interest. It is unusual for a WTO director-general to take a public position on such politically contentious questions. But Mr Moore says in an article in the Financial Times that an agreement on new WTO rules would benefit developing countries by helping them attract foreign direct investment, attack hardcore cartels, tackle corrupt procurement practices and lower export costs.

South Africa's fight against AIDS has be promised a lifeline after EU has approved of a R515-million in aid to be allocated to the Department of Health to strengthen primary health care and fight against AIDS.

WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Mike Moore has said that the new global trade round which was launched at Doha in November, would address the "obscenity" that while trade can offer hope to Africa's poorest nations, some richer countries have closed their markets to African exporters.

UNEP is coordinating the production of ten thematic papers for the Global Mountain Summit (BGMS Bishkek, Kirgystan, Oct. 28- Nov. 1, 2002), which will form the basis of the Bishkek Mountain Platform, an action plan for future sustainable mountain development. The themes of these papers are listed below. Leading international figures in sustainable mountain development have been commissioned to act as lead authors in order to prepare the first drafts of these papers. However, it is recognised that only with a much wider input and gathering of knowledge and best practices from mountain ranges in all regions of the world can these papers truly contribute to the future of sustainable mountain development.

The only way to really describe the World Social Forum (WSF), that just ended here in Brazil, is a global political "carnaval." Not that there was much of the glitter and hedonism associated with that most famous Brazilian street party which begins later this week. Rather, inside the conference halls and out, this astounding event--part political convention, part art and music festival, part intellectual gathering of social movements, was in a state of nearly perpetual celebratory protest for five days and five nights.

Leaders of 36 international companies have issued a "corporate citizenship" statement, committing them to making responsible behaviour a core part of their business and to forging close links with all their stakeholders. Against the background of the Enron scandal and continuing waves of corporate lay-offs, the chief executives of companies, including Anglo American, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Siemens, will say that "ultimate responsibility (for corporate citizenship) rests with us as chief executives, chairmen and board directors".

The World Bank's clumsy attempts to censor its own researchers have resulted in stinging criticism by Bank staff. The latest edition of the World Bank Staff Association newsletter carries two editorials about Bank staff members who were disciplined after publishing separate articles in the Financial Times. Both have now left the Bank. The editorials question whether the Bank's "public image matters more than germane research findings" and complain about the Bank's internal governance mechanisms. These are important issues given the Bank's ever-expanding publication and training agenda.